Thats because the Cubs led this one 7-0 going into the bottom of the sixth and 8-1 going into the bottom of the seventh. At one point in the seventh inning, the Cubs chances of winning this one reached 99.1 percent. Thats a disaster look in every sense of the term, and sadly for the Cubs its approximately in keeping with Kimbrels recent history. Over the last four months of the 2018 regular season, Kimbrel strolled 25 batters in 37 1/3 innings. He didnt land with the Cubs until after the 2019 season had actually started, and he didnt make his very first appearance for them up until late June.
Thanks in part to Jon Lesters 5 no-hit innings and Anthony Rizzos 3rd homer of the young season, the Cubs on Monday night had the ability to wring out an 8-7 win over the Reds in Cincinnati (box score). By the time Joey Votto lined into Albert Almoras glove to end it, though, it felt a bit like a Cubs loss..
Thats due to the fact that the Cubs led this one 7-0 going into the bottom of the sixth and 8-1 going into the bottom of the seventh. At one point in the seventh inning, the Cubs possibilities of winning this one reached 99.1 percent.
Speaking of Kimbrel– the primary offender in this one– please subject yourself to his pitching line for the night:.
Of his 34 pitches, just 13 went for strikes. Reds batters didnt swing at any of the 15 breaking balls that Kimbrel tossed.
Thats a disaster look in every sense of the term, and regrettably for the Cubs its approximately in keeping with Kimbrels current history. At his peak, he was on the brief list of the most dominant closers in baseball history, but that peak is fading deeper and much deeper into the past. Kimbrel revealed signs of eroding command during the 2018 season for the Red Sox, despite the fact that he wound up with strong numbers overall. Over the last four months of the 2018 routine season, Kimbrel walked 25 batters in 37 1/3 innings. In the 2018 postseason for Boston, he walked another 8 batters in 10 2/3 innings (while likewise putting up a 5.91 ERA)..
Kimbrel became a totally free agent that winter season and found the marketplace not especially accommodating. He didnt land with the Cubs till after the 2019 season had begun, and he didnt make his very first appearance for them up until late June. You likely know what occurred next: Kimbrel in 20 2/3 innings for the Cubs authored an ERA of 6.53 and walked 12 batters..
Sure, you can dismiss that 2019 efficiency to a level since of his late start, and maybe you can say the same about his gruesome 2020 launching. The dominating reality, though, is that Kimbrel hasnt been able to put the baseball where he wants to in more than two years. Hes now 32, and hes got some miles on his arm by the standards of contemporary relievers with electric things. Theres a danger in responding to a single outing– particularly a first outing of the season thats occurring four months after it should have. Kimbrel on Monday night, however, looked all excessive like a pitcher who didnt belong on a major-league mound..
The Cubs, already thin on quality relievers and committed to Kimbrel through a minimum of 2021, had better hope thats not the case.
